HOLY WATER

As part of Eric Firestone Gallery’s debut season at its second East Hampton location at 62 Newtown Lane, more than 20 contemporary artists from outside the gallery’s program have been invited to respond to the concept of water and the foundational oceanic myths that populate our cultural imagination. From fishing and surfing to baptism and migration, from quotidian marine life to fantastical sea gods and monsters, the works on view reflect diverse conceptual and formal interpretations on the theme. They bring to the fore a broad range of environmental, spiritual, feminist, and political perspectives.

Curated by Zoe Lukov and opening on July 2, Holy Water features painting, sculpture, and photography by established artists such as Radcliffe Bailey, Raúl de Nieves, Zhang Huan, April Gornik, and Jwan Yosef, rising stars like Bony Ramirez, Gabriela Ruiz, and Hiba Schahbaz, as well as emerging artists including Shagha Ariannia, Armani Howard, and Nereida Patricia. The exhibition will include artists who have never before presented their work on Long Island, alongside those with long trajectories of practicing on the East End. Hailing from a diverse range of countries, including Barbados, Dominican Republic, Iran, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Syria, Sweden, and beyond, each artist has a profound relationship with bodies of water and the way that both the myths and histories of our relationships with the water have deep cultural, spiritual, and political implications.